however, protocols involving safety issues (such as train horns) that have been in place for long periods of time should be very difficult and time consuming to change. that’s a benefit in the long run.

I believe there has to be a crossing gate with arms at each crossing to apply for the zone. Many road/rail intersections do not have them, even in the midsts of the city. Even then, the trains can still sound the horn if people are too near or crossing the rail. Blame the idiots who insist on driving around the blinking lights and warning bells.

If the douchington ave people had money in the first place, they would have bought anywhere else. They bought cheap because of the nuisance and then changed the nuisance. Genius money making idea, if you ask me.

To be fair, the tracks parallel to Washington get a lot more traffic now than they used to, as a result of railroad company consolidation and the resulting abandonment of some routes. I’ve lived within earshot for decades (albeit a half mile the other side of the Katy Freeway – on a quiet night with a south breeze, particularly in the winter, yeah, it’ll keep you up) and my own perception is that there is a LOT more night time train traffic.

I’m half a mile north, and on a cold winter night I sleep even better hearing the familiar bleat of a Union Pacific train going into downtown. I get a huge laugh out of those in their 3 story stucco monstrosities whining about noise when their thoughtless selves bought too close to the railroad tracks, oh wo is me, just over flowing with sympathy for those into conspicuous consumption, cheaply made crap stucco homes, and mid level German luxury cars. Life is hard, cry yourself to sleep…

I grew up in First Ward at 1319 Winter street, the trains passed right in front of my front yard. It’s wasn’t so bad never really heard the noise, guess I was just use to it. As a kid the conductors would always throw me peppermint candy when they passed. Those were the good old days at least for me. But I can never go home again.